Locking lid for water or gas main stop-boxes.



W. O. B. MATTHEWS.

LOCKING LID FOR WATER 0R GAS MAIN STOP BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1912.

1,054,782, I Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

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IN VENTOR www.. BY M A TTORNE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM 0. B. MATTHEWS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO CHARLES O. KRUGER, OF ABINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCKING LID FOR WATER 0R GAS MAIN STOP-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4,1913.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it knownthat I, WILLIAM O. B. MATTHEWS, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, but now residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Lids for Water or Gas Main Stop- Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation particularly to a locking lid for gas or water main stopboxes, yet such lids are equally applicable to manhole conduits housing electric and other Wires underground, to prevent thereby accidents incident to the use as now of unprotected lids, for such boxes or conduits.

My invention stated in general terms, consists of a locking lid for a stop-box or conduit manually operative from the outside thereof, by means of a key, for elevating the lid to gain access to the interior of the box or conduit, and when constructively arranged as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a top or plan view of a water or gas main stop-box provided with a hinged lid having a key-hold in connection with a locking device not shown in this view, but fully shown in Fig. 2, embodying main features of my present invention. Fig. 2, is an under plan elevational view of the locking device for the lid of the said defined box or conduit, showing the same in this view in an operative position. Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view through the box on the line 3-3, of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, is a similar view of the key-hold on the line 1 -t of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings a, is the rect-angular-shaped water or gas main stop-box having a lid al, pivoted as shown, by means of a bar a2, journaled in two of the sides of the box a, as in Fig. l, and forming thereby a hinged connection of the lid a1, with the box a.

b, is a circular recess formed in the body of the lid and in which is mounted the keyhold b1, arranged square at the upper end, in the said recess and rounded beneath and on which is secured a washer or gasket b2, so as to hold it up against the lid body. The

lower end of the said key-hold b1 is formed square as at b3, and to which is secured a cross-bar b4, by means of a set-screw b5, making the same removable therefrom. The crossbar b4, is pivoted to the forked end of the lock-bolt c, mounted in a housing c1, and which lock-bolt c, is provided with a limiting stop-pin c2, beyond the rear end to the left of the housing c1, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The outer end of the cross-bar b4, is connected with one end of preferably a coiled spring el, the opposite end of which is pinned at (Z1, to the base of the housing 01, for the lock-bolt c. The said lock-bolt c, at the forward right hand end is rounded olf on one side, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that the liat opposite side of the same may rest on the inner ledge or rim a2, of the box a, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The ledge or rim a2, is arranged on all four sides of the box a, so that when the lid al, rests thereon, its upper surface will be flush with the top surface of the box a, as clearly illustrated in plan in Fig. 1.

By fitting a key into the key-hold b1, and then manually turning the same, the crossbar b4, will be drawn in a rearward direction, that is, to the left on the under side of the box-lid and thereby the spring CZ, exe panded to withdraw at the same time the lock-bolt o, from its contact or engagement with the ledge or rim a2, of the box, andthus to permit the lid al, to be readily by hand elevated so as to gain access to the interior of the box a, for the intended purposes. The limiting stop-pin c2, when the energy exerted is released that caused the lid to be elevated and the lid has been closed down onto its countersunk seat, will bear against the left hand end of the housing for the lock-bolt c, and the opposite end of the said bolt will rest upon the under side of the said ledge or rim a2, to thereby lock the lid in connection with the said box a, as will be clearly understood from Fig. 2, of the drawings.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-ent is In a stop-box, a key operating means and having pivotally connected thereto a crosslever which carries at one extremity a retraoting spring, an incasement for a loekmy signature in the presence of the two subbolt, said bolt having a limiting stop to enscribing Witnesses hereto. a e said incasement and said lock-bolt ivtegd to said cross-lever and operated by gaid WILLIAM O" B' MATTHEVVS 5 key operating means, substantially as and Witnesses:

for the purposes described. J. WALTER DoUGLAss, In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set THOMAS M. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

